PATCH Act
Sponsored By: Senator Brian Schatz
Introduced
Summary
Creates a 1.5 minimum work geographic index for Medicare physician payments in Hawaii. This bill would raise the work geographic index used to calculate physician payments for services furnished in Hawaii to at least 1.5 when the calculated index would otherwise be lower, effective January 1, 2026.
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- Physicians in Hawaii: The work geographic index applied to physician services would be set no lower than 1.5 for services on or after January 1, 2026, which increases the per-service payment factor used in Medicare calculations.
- Medicare program and federal spending: The floor is explicitly not applied in a budget-neutral manner, so Medicare payments for physician services in Hawaii would rise and federal Medicare spending would increase.
*Would increase federal Medicare payments by raising the work geographic index floor for Hawaii, thereby increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher Medicare pay for Hawaii doctors
If enacted, Medicare would use at least a 1.5 work geographic index for physician services in Hawaii. This rule would start for services furnished on or after January 1, 2026. After the usual calculation, the Secretary would raise any lower index up to 1.5. The bill says the increase would not be budget-neutral. That would raise Medicare pay for affected Hawaii doctors and practices.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Brian Schatz
HI • D
Cosponsors
Mazie Hirono
HI • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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